초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for storing, transporting, and releasing high grade, thermodynamically useful energy for a wide variety of uses. Solar energy is collected and reflected onto a heat storage container using a three-mirror reflecting system. This invention involves a method of heating the heat s

A method and apparatus for storing, transporting, and releasing high grade, thermodynamically useful energy for a wide variety of uses. Solar energy is collected and reflected onto a heat storage container using a three-mirror reflecting system. This invention involves a method of heating the heat storage container using a primary, secondary, and tertiary system, which has a core that is partially comprised of an aluminum alloy and a metallic shell with a higher melting point than the aluminum alloy contained within. Once heated, the storage containers can then be transported to different storage areas in order to heat secondary storage containers or can be used in processes such as cooking, powering heat engines, water heating, absorption refrigeration, or drying garbage, waste, or biomass.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A system for transporting and storing heat energy comprising: a conveying system that transports one or more heat storage containers between a solar heating station and a heat dependent use application, said heat storage container having a cylindrical body section and an insulated eyele

I claim: 1. A system for transporting and storing heat energy comprising: a conveying system that transports one or more heat storage containers between a solar heating station and a heat dependent use application, said heat storage container having a cylindrical body section and an insulated eyelet on the ends of the cylindrical body which are used for grasping and moving the heat storage container during transport; one or more insulated energy storage areas designed to hold at least one of said heat storage containers during periods of use or non-use; a solar collection and reflecting mirror arrangement employing at least one primary mirror, at least one secondary mirror, and at least one tertiary mirror to collect and concentrate solar energy onto said solar heating station to heat at least one of said heat storage container; and an insulated enclosure lid capable of covering said solar heating station when solar heating decreases, said tertiary mirror is located on an inner surface of the insulated enclosure lid. 2. The system for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 1 further comprising a backup heat source to heat said first heat storage container or provide direct heat in situations in which the primary solar energy absorption system is unavailable or non-functioning. 3. The system for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 1 wherein one of the heat storage containers has an outer shell formed of carbon fiber and an inner core composed of an aluminum-based composition. 4. The system for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 1 further comprising: a two-axis sun tracking system located under at least one mirror to track the movement of the sun and move the orientation of the mirror in coordination with the movement of the sun. 5. The system for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 1 further comprising: a movable secondary mirror that can shift reflection of solar energy between two separate solar heating stations. 6. The system for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 1 wherein a primary mirror comprises a plurality of assembled mirror modules. 7. The system for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 1 wherein a secondary mirror comprises a plurality of assembled mirror modules. 8. An apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy comprising: one or more heat storage containers, said heat storage containers having a cylindrical body with eyelets located on the ends of the cylindrical body for grasping the heat storage containers during transport, and said heat storage containers having a core of aluminum; a solar energy collection system comprised of a first mirror reflecting solar energy to a second mirror, said second mirror directing solar energy toward the one or more heat storage containers to heat said heat storage containers to a specified temperature for a desired use; an insulating lid controlled by a sensor responsive to an environmental condition to close over said heat storage container to prevent heat loss; and a backup heat source to heat said first heat storage containers in situations in where a primary solar energy absorption system is unavailable or non-functioning. 9. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 further comprising: at least one storage area for storing said heat storage containers. 10. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 further comprising: a third mirror receiving solar energy from the second mirror, and said third mirror reflecting said solar energy to a solar collection point maintaining the heat storage containers. 11. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 further comprising: a conveying system that transports the heat storage containers to and from a use application by the grasping eyelets on the ends of the heat storage containers, so the system can use heat from said stored heat energy. 12. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 11 further comprising: at least one storage area for storing said heat storage containers. 13. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 further comprising: a second heat storage container used for heat transfer and heated by the heat storage containers for use by a use application. 14. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 wherein the environmental condition comprises reduced solar energy. 15. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 wherein the environmental condition comprises a lowered temperature of the first heat storage container. 16. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 wherein at least one mirror includes a plurality of assembled mirror modules. 17. The apparatus for transporting and storing heat energy of claim 8 wherein at least one mirror includes a two-axis sun tracking mechanism that moves the mirror to follow the movement of the sun. 18. A method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy using a solar collection apparatus that direct solar energy at heating storage containers, comprising the steps of: providing an arrangement of three reflecting mirrors collecting and reflecting solar energy onto a solar energy collection point and locating one of the three reflecting mirrors underneath the solar collection point; providing a heat storage container to heat at said solar energy collection point to a temperature required for a use application, said heat storage containers having a cylindrical body and two insulated grasping eyelets located on the ends of the cylindrical body of the heat storage containers, and said outer shell of the heat storage container is composed of steel, stainless steel, iron, titanium, or carbon fiber; conveying through the use of the insulated grasping eyelets the heat storage container to said use application for use through the release of the heat energy stored in the heat storage containers; and storing said heat storage container during a period of non-use before recycling for reheating and reuse in said use application preventing heat loss from a heated heat storage container by enclosing said heat storage container at the solar energy collection point using a movable lid fitting over the reflecting mirror located under the solar collection point to form an insulating container; and closing said lid in response to a lower temperature or a decreased solar energy level. 19. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 18 wherein the outer shell of the heat storage container comprises a combination of two or more of the following materials: steel, stainless steel; iron; titanium; or carbon fiber. 20. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 18 wherein the inner core of the heat storage container comprises aluminum. 21. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 18 further comprising the step of: providing a lid to cover the heat collection point having one or more of the heat storage containers, said lid closing in response to a decrease in the temperature of the heat storage containers. 22. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored of claim 18 further comprising the step of: providing a lid to cover the heat collection point having one or more of the heat storage containers, said lid closing in response to a decrease in the solar energy on the solar energy collection point 23. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored energy of claim 18 wherein the three reflecting mirrors comprise a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and a tertiary mirror. 24. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 23 further comprising the steps of: collecting solar energy with at least one primary mirror to reflect toward a secondary mirror; reflecting solar energy from the secondary mirror to the tertiary mirror; and reflecting solar energy from the tertiary mirror to the solar energy collection point. 25. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 23 further comprising the step of: reflecting solar energy from at least two secondary mirrors toward a single solar energy collection point. 26. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 23 further comprising the step of: reflecting solar energy from at least two secondary mirrors onto a single tertiary mirror. 27. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 18 further comprising the step of: heating a cooled heat storage container with a heated heat storage container conveyed from the solar energy collection point. 28. The method for transporting, storing and releasing stored heat energy of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: reflecting solar energy from at least two secondary mirrors toward a single solar energy collection point. 29. The method for transporting, storing and releasing heat energy of claim 18 wherein at least one reflecting mirror comprises at least one of the following: an inflatable structure with a parabolic reflecting surface; a plurality of assembled mirror modules; a glass mirror; an insulated parabolic mirrored surface on top of an insulating material; a composite; and a polished metal.